Kabras Sugar have dominated the local and regional rugby scene for five seasons now.
South African coach Carlos Katywa guided the sugar millers to a sixth Kenya Cup victory in May this year, the team beating KCB 14-8 in Kakamega in the final to stay unbeaten in four consecutive seasons.
They followed up their Kenya Cup success with their sixth consecutive Enterprise Cup title, beating Ugandan champions, Stanbic Black Pirates 25-12 in the final in Nairobi.
That is the dominance Katywa wants to shift to the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit that enters the second leg in Kisumu today with the 23rd edition of Dala Sevens at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu.
Kabras Sugar have crafted a plan that they hope will not only help them scuttle KCB Rugby Club’s plan of winning all the six legs in the circuit but also the overall title.
Interestingly, it’s KCB who prevailed over Kabras Sugar 19-12 in the final of Prinsloo Sevens, the series opening leg of the series, in Nakuru last weekend. KCB sealed their sixth Dala Sevens title last year, beating Kabras Sugar 12-5 in the final as the sides met for the second time in the final.
Kabras claimed their first and final Dala Sevens title in 2024, beating their little Menengai Oilers 24-5 in the final
Kabras side are chasing their second National Sevens Circuit title, having claimed their maiden gong in 2017.
On the other hand, KCB have won the circuit five times with head coach Andrew Amonde and his captain Elvis Olukusi vowing to win all the six legs in the circuit. The most a team has won in four legs.
Katywa said his team wants to carry the winning culture they have established in Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup to the sevens version of the game.
“We now want to shift our 15s dominance to the sevens version of the game fully. We know where we want to go wrong at Prinsloo and we expect a good outing in Dala,” said Katywa.
“We won’t let anything get out of Kakamega at our expense, be it the Kenya Cup or Enterprise Cup and that momentum will trickle down to the sevens.”
Kabras Sugar, who collected 19 points from Prinsloo, play in Pool D in Dala Sevens alongside Nakuru, Strathmore University Leos and Embu.
KCB is expected to field their new signing Nygel Amaitsa, formerly of Strathmore Leos for the first time, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Impala and Zetech University Oaks in Pool A.
KCB’s Dala Sevens victory last year contributed to their successful 2025 campaign, when they won the overall SportPesa National Sevens Circuit with 126 points.
It will once again be a show of might with both Kabras Sugar and KCB unleashing their finest Kenya Sevens players.
It will take something special to breach KCB’s wall mounted by Olukusi, Bob Muhati, Lionell Anjeliti and Jenkins Kipruto, and the versatile Vincent Onyala, George Oroo, Samuel Asati and Brian Wahinya.
Kevin Wekesa, Brian Tanga, Lamec Ambetsa, William Muhanji and Griffin Chao will provide the firepower for Kabras at the lakeside city. Amaitsa said he is eager to make his first appearance for the national champions.
“It is a proud moment for me to have the opportunity to represent KCB Rugby. The team has welcomed me well, and I have enjoyed settling into the environment,” said Amaitsa.
“I am looking forward to contributing and learning from the experienced players and achieving our goals this weekend.”
